University Ambulance Service
The University Ambulance Service responds to medical emergencies on the University Park campus and within the local community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and staffed by well-trained, certified student emergency medical technicians, and emergency response professionals.
Each year, University Ambulance Service responds to approximately 1,500 ambulance calls. Although students are our main focus, we routinely respond to requests from employees, visitors, and event and conference attendees.
The University Ambulance Service also provides Advanced Life Support level services at special events under the direction of an emergency physician from the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Our department also offers numerous training programs for students interested in becoming certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), such as the EMT Training Course, KINES 403.
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Emergency Medical Services staff offices are located on the first floor of the Student Health Center at University Park.
University Ambulance Service responds to calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with the exception of the annual December University closure.
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All ambulance, hospital, emergency room, and inpatient fees are the patient's responsibility.
There is a charge for ambulance services; patients will be asked to sign an insurance authorization for billing at the time of assessment/treatment. The University Ambulance Service participates only with Medicare/Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (Medicaid) and TRICARE. The ambulance service is out of network for all commercial insurance plans; patients are responsible for the charges in full, and your insurance company may reimburse some or all of the charges based on your plan’s benefits.
Students who decline transport to the hospital may be billed for their treatment and/or assessment. Beginning in Fall 2023, the Student Fee Board will cover any non-transport fees that are charged to currently enrolled students by the PSU University Ambulance Service only. There may be charges applied to students who decline transport by other local Ambulance services.
EMT Training Opportunities at Penn State
The following courses are available to individuals interested in gaining emergency medical training experience at Penn State. Please contact the EMS Education Office at 814-863-0434 or 814-865-1772 for additional information or email uhs-ems@psu.edu
Details for each course, including up-to-date scheduling information, can be found on LionPATH. Please Note: Programs and classes are not offered every semester or year. Please check LionPATH for a complete schedule of available courses.
- KINES 403 – Emergency Medical Technology (EMT)
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Kinesiology 403: EMT Training Course
Kinesiology 403 is a 4-credit course that thoroughly prepares students at the Emergency Medical Technician-Basic level using both a classroom and lab setting. This course will prepare the student to become a functioning EMT and challenge them to use the acquired skills to respond to emergency situations. Upon completion of the course, students will be effectively prepared for successful completion of the PA Department of Health and National Registry examinations.
Lectures
Meet twice a week to learn the ins and outs of the human body as well as how to properly manage life-threatening situations in a pre-hospital setting.
Labs
Meets one night per week. Using actual equipment you are placed in real-life scenarios created by EMS personnel of different levels allowing you to gain hands-on experience from the start.
Benefits
CPR and EMT certifications Multiple opportunities to ride along with surrounding EMS services Potential to join any of the surrounding EMS services.
Application Process
To apply for the course, please fill out this application. There is no deadline for the application, but you must fill it out at least one semester in advance in order to be considered.
General Schedule
The following is the general schedule format for KINES 403:
- The lecture is Monday/Wednesday from 2:30 p.m.-4:45 p.m.
- The lab is Wednesday from 5:45 p.m.- 10:15 p.m. and is located at the EMS Room at Beaver Stadium
- The first Wednesday is lab orientation
- The second Wednesday is CPR training
- There will be an occasional Saturday lab to cover special topics such as vehicle extrication
- A detailed class schedule will be released to the class through Canvas
- KINES 303 is NOT a prerequisite for this course
Other Relevant Courses
We also offer courses to further your Emergency Medical Services education:
- ITLS
- EVOC
- Field Practicum
- EMS instructor and many more
Questions? Contact the EMS Instructor, Josh Fremburg at 814-863-0434 or vjf1@psu.edu.
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Pennsylvania Department of Health EMT-Basic Practical Certification Examinations
- Proctor: Tyler Thomas
- Dates: Contact Seven Mountains EMS Council at 814-355-1474 or visit www.smemsc.org
- Enrollment: Penn State pre-registration required
- Prerequisite: Contact Seven Mountains EMS Council at 814-355-1474 or visit www.smemsc.org
Pennsylvania Department of Health Written Certification Examinations
- Proctor: Tyler Thomas
- Dates: Contact Seven Mountains EMS Council at 814-355-1474 or visit www.smemsc.org
- Enrollment: open
- Prerequisite: Contact Seven Mountains EMS Council at 814-355-1474 or www.smemsc.org
National Registry EMT - Basic Written Examination
- Follow the steps on National Registry EMT's website to Apply for your NREMT Exam
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To more efficiently disseminate information and reduce the burden of course announcements, courses offered through Penn State University available for Department of Health (DOH) Continuing Education (CE) credits will no longer be faxed and mailed out to all interested individuals or entities. The DOH has a website specifically targeted to EMS personnel and entities; for more information visit health.pa.gov.
We encourage every certified provider to register on this site to access its resources. Should you wish to search for only programs offered through Penn State, our Sponsor Number is 200007. This number can be entered after selecting "More Search Criteria." After your search has produced its results additional information may be obtained by clicking the highlighted "Continuing Education Class Number (Con Ed Class #)." Questions or problems with the site, registration, or information contained therein should be directed to your regional EMS council.
We will continue to target specific populations with an interest in specific programming unless they request to opt out. For example: EVOC programs will continue to be advertised to local public safety entities as it is both a DOH CE program and also specifically applies to the non-medical emergency response community; not all personnel have access to DOH resources.
Another useful online resource available to Pennsylvania EMS providers, free of charge, is the Learning Management System (LMS). Please contact your regional EMS council to be added to this resource that, among other items, will allow you to take online CME programs for recertification.
You may want to visit the DOH website as there is an abundance of Pennsylvania-specific health-related information available. Specifically, the EMS Office’s website offers links to the LMS, new BLS Protocols, EMS Information Bulletins, your regional councils, and more.
